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Depart from Florence to eat and drink your way through Chianti, famous for red wines, cuisine, and stunning landscapes. Enjoy a Tuscan lunch or dinner and wine-tasting...
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2018: best 2023 to 2033.
vintage5 yrs15 yrs17 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wine Advocate reviewed 2021 | 2018 | 93/100 |
| Vinous reviewed 2021 | 2018 | 92/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: blackberry, black pepper, graphite, wild fennel
Palate: dark plum, iron, sweet spice, leather
The flagship 100 percent Pugnitello bottling, deep and peppery from a grape San Felice rescued from extinction in the 1980s.
What it pairs with
-
Black-pepper crusted beef tenderloin
Pugnitello's natural pepper amplifies the crust. -
Wild boar in chocolate sauce
Game and dark fruit lock together. -
Aged Caciotta with truffle
Truffle meets the wine's iron and leather.
How to serve San Felice Pugnitello
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Black-pepper crusted beef tenderloin, Wild boar in chocolate sauce, Aged Caciotta with truffle. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
San Felice researchers identified Pugnitello as a distinct ancient varietal in 1981; the estate cloned vines and produced the first 100 percent Pugnitello bottling in 2003.
- 1981: San Felice identifies Pugnitello as a distinct grape
- 2003: First vintage of the 100 percent Pugnitello bottling
Facts
- Producer
- San Felice · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Pugnitello (100%)
- Classification
- Toscana IGT
- Oak
- 18 months in French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 60 to 90 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2003
Frequently asked about San Felice Pugnitello
What does San Felice Pugnitello taste like?
On the nose, blackberry, black pepper, graphite, wild fennel. On the palate, dark plum, iron, sweet spice, leather. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The flagship 100 percent Pugnitello bottling, deep and peppery from a grape San Felice rescued from extinction in the 1980s.
When should I drink San Felice Pugnitello?
Drink 5 to 15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with San Felice Pugnitello?
Black-pepper crusted beef tenderloin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Wild boar in chocolate sauce and Aged Caciotta with truffle. Pugnitello's natural pepper amplifies the crust.
What grapes are in San Felice Pugnitello?
The blend is Pugnitello (100%). The wine is classified as Toscana IGT.
Tags
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